1st Family Trip with a Pre-K'er, a 2 year old and a puking baby!

[cheryterese]

Originally Posted by lexmas

Lol I didn't realize I didn't have my location listed. We live in Amherst, right outside of buffalo. Probably 10-15 minutes to the airport.

"hair-challenged" Both of mine seem to fit this bill. DD has more hair than DS did, but she's still really bald. You only notice her hair because it's red. I think they did a great job with your DS's hair. Did you just get to explain how you wanted it done? DS wouldn't tolerate more than a trim, I'm sure. He gives me long lectures about how much he loves his curly hair (he has ringlets, it's beautiful!) and how his curly hair makes him who he is. He MAY have an identity crisis when we cut it, even just an inch or two! I told him, "sometimes people think you're a girl when you have long hair because they expect girls to have long hair." And he told me, "That's okay Mommy, it doesn't bother me." I guess if you're going to be a little hippie, you better be a self-confident one!

Well, if you can survive not going back for a nap every day with 3 little ones, I can definitely handle it with two.

Can't wait for more!

We live in Gowanda. My husband works in Amherst (at Northrup Grumman)!

Our barber did ask how I wanted Matthew's hair cut, but I didn't really know what to say since there wasn't that much to work with anyway. Then she said, "Boy cut?" and I nodded yes since I didn't really have any other ideas! Are you sure you want DS's hair trimmed? It sounds so beautiful!! Maybe he should just have the colored gel and "Pirate Dust".

Hoping to have time to get another update out tomorrow!

[lexmas]

Yeah, northrup grumman is 5 minutes from my house! That's quite a commute your DH has every day! (Strangely, my brother works for Northrup Grumman, just in LA haha).

The "boy cut" turned out nicely, so she knew what she was doing!

And, for his hair, well, I figure I can't let this can't grow forever, right?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...g/100_5949.jpg

[lexmas]

Oh, and I forgot to ask, how did you feel about having two strollers? I know with 3 kids it was probably unavoidable, but we're really torn between buying a double or using two singles (since we have like, four single strollers it pains me to shell out a couple hundred dollars for a new stroller. And then I'm terrified it will be stollen). Actually, we're thinking about trying to figure out how to attach two of our strollers into one double "frankenstroller" but I doubt it will work. I know you had the car, so you didn't have to worry about busses or anything, but for in the park how did you think it was?

I really appreciate all the advice!

[cheryterese]

Originally Posted by lexmas

Yeah, northrup grumman is 5 minutes from my house! That's quite a commute your DH has every day! (Strangely, my brother works for Northrup Grumman, just in LA haha).

The "boy cut" turned out nicely, so she knew what she was doing!

And, for his hair, well, I figure I can't let this can't grow forever, right?

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b2...g/100_5949.jpg

Oh my gosh, his hair is gorgeous!!! I bet you could just tell them you want a little trim and then you'd get a curl mixed with the confetti to take with you. Then he could have the "Pirate Dust" at the end! I've read you can get colored gel too, if that interests you. We thought about doing that for our older two, but then when she just did the confetti on their head with hairspray for free we figured that was good enough! Does your son want a trim?

My DH does have a big commute - 2 hours roundtrip. We love where we live though and he's willing to do it. We're on family land in my great-great grandparents farmhouse and are across from the Zoar Valley State Land.

[cheryterese]

Originally Posted by lexmas

Oh, and I forgot to ask, how did you feel about having two strollers? I know with 3 kids it was probably unavoidable, but we're really torn between buying a double or using two singles (since we have like, four single strollers it pains me to shell out a couple hundred dollars for a new stroller. And then I'm terrified it will be stollen). Actually, we're thinking about trying to figure out how to attach two of our strollers into one double "frankenstroller" but I doubt it will work. I know you had the car, so you didn't have to worry about busses or anything, but for in the park how did you think it was?

I really appreciate all the advice!

For us, having the two strollers was great and if we were to go again tomorrow that's what I'd do. Here's where it was a real pain: getting on the trams from the parking lot to the park entrance (which you wouldn't need to do because you'd have the bus, but I think you'll still have to fold them up on the bus) and travelling on the Magic Kingdom Rail Road with them (which we just wouldn't do again). Those were a pain because we had to fold them up for both, and since we had several things in each stroller folding them up meant taking all the stuff out and then having that stuff, the two strollers, and the three kids to deal with. (Our stuff consisted of one lunch pack with snacks, juice boxes, etc., and one backpack with extra clothes, diapers, etc. There was also misc. loose stuff like their Mickey Ears hats when they tired of wearing them, the Kidcot Masks at Epcot, and sweatshirts that would get shed as the day warmed up, etc.) It was such a hassle for the tram that after the first time we just walked from the parking lots to the park entrances, even when it was a 10 minute walk. It was just easier to load the kids and all the stuff into the strollers directly from the car and go from there rather than having the added step of the tram. Once we got our system down it worked great. We did a LOT of walking on this trip. I lost 3pounds! And I've never lost weight on a vacation before.

Will your kids nap comfortably in an umbrella stroller? The reason we brought the two "fancier" strollers instead of umbrella's was partly due to that. Matthew will only nap in the stroller with the back that adjusts to the lying down position and since we had days planned where we would not return for naps I knew he'd need that one. We packed two of his blankets on those days as well - his sleeping blanket to cover him up with and a bigger blanket to cover the stroller with so he'd have privacy and fall asleep. It worked great. As for the jogger, it was a super expensive gift one that I did not want to have stollen, but it was the only way I knew to get our other kids around comfortably. They're used to sitting like they did in the picture (Madeleine in the seat and Sam in the footrest) so even though it's not a double we use it like one all the time. Sam really needed to have a place to sit too - there was so much walking! Wait, did I say that already?

We never had any problem with stuff getting taken, but the CM's did move the strollers several times. We did see one couple talking to the park police at the Mexico pavillion one evening and apparantly their stroller was missing. It was just a chance we took and we were fortunate to not have any problems.

Sorry to be so long winded on this, but I think it's important to take what you think the kids will be most comfortable in and what will work best for you and your husband as far as transporting, folding up, etc. Think about how you travel for day trips now and go from there. Good luck!

[momofsamandeden]

On the stroller bit there are links that you can buy to attach two strollers together side by side. We have to bring ours that lays down as we will have a nine month old who I am sure will only sleep in the reclined position. We are thinking of renting though just so we do not have the hassle of dragging it through the airport etc and if it gets stolen then it is not our problem.
We are going May 11-18th. We have our nanny coming also but she will be with family for most of the time. We are mainly going to use her for a few hours in the evening a couple nights and possibly during a resort nap time for the younger ones while we ride bigger rides that we did not want to baby swap on.

[lexmas]

Thanks for all the stroller input! Long winded is not a problem, I need all the advice I can get on this!

I did know about the things that link the strollers together, but I read that you need two of the same umbrella strollers. And we don't have them.

DS will nap in any stroller, DD, well, she's never napped anywhere but in a sling tied to me LOL, but I suspect some day she will nap in the stroller too. She's the most easy going child in the world.

It's really smart what you do with your jogger, and I might get my kids to try that on ours! Folding that up for the busses wouldn't work though.

Thanks for the "discussion", you've given me lots to think about! Now I must think and plan (which I may think is a pain but secretly I love it as well! Planning is half the fun!)

ETA: I forgot! If I were you, I wouldn't move either. An old farmhouse near zoar valley? That sounds beautiful, it's my dream! Worth every minute of that commute to come home to that! We live in the house I grew up in, but only because my dad died and my mom needed help with the house and my grandmother (who lives here too, she has Alzheimers and dementia and can't walk alone, on top of other issues). I'd take a farmhouse any day! (Haha. No, I really do enjoy living here. I know my mother would be so lonely living alone, and go crazy taking care of my grandma. It's a challenge sometimes, having a 4-generation home, but worth it, in this case. If my dad was still alive, I'd still be dreaming for the farmhouse though! )

And no, he hates the idea of a haircut. But by september, it's going to be pretty long. So if we're going to torture him with a trim, might as well do it at disney...

[reyasmommy]

I'm loving your TR thus far. And your children are so adorable.

We're leaving on our vacation 2 weeks from today and your TR is helping me get in the mood. We just found out yesterday that my husband is taking a huge paycut and it's making it difficult to get excited because we need to be frugal. I'm SOOO ready for the Disney Magic because it's been a difficult year, and I know no matter what I can leave all my troubles behind once I walk through those gates.

We're going to get my DD's 1st haircut while we're there as well. She was bald up until she was 2 1/2. She turns 4 on March 25th. I've been waiting for a long, long time to fill out the "first haircut" page in her baby book. Thanks for sharing your experience and photos.

My DS just turned 2 months old on Monday and I'm thinking it's going to be a LONG time until he gets his first haircut too. For some reason I make some pretty bald babies.



I'm looking forward to reading and seeing more.

[momofsamandeden]

My DD will be three June 3rd and she is just now getting bangs. DH wants to trim her hair but I want to wait until Disney to do it with her which will be in May. Even then she will barely have enough hair! DD #2 actually was born with a full head of hair and even at six months she still has it!

[cheryterese]

Originally Posted by lexmas

DS will nap in any stroller, DD, well, she's never napped anywhere but in a sling tied to me LOL, but I suspect some day she will nap in the stroller too. She's the most easy going child in the world.

Thanks for the "discussion", you've given me lots to think about! Now I must think and plan (which I may think is a pain but secretly I love it as well! Planning is half the fun!)

ETA: I forgot! If I were you, I wouldn't move either. An old farmhouse near zoar valley? That sounds beautiful, it's my dream! Worth every minute of that commute to come home to that! We live in the house I grew up in, but only because my dad died and my mom needed help with the house and my grandmother (who lives here too, she has Alzheimers and dementia and can't walk alone, on top of other issues). I'd take a farmhouse any day! (Haha. No, I really do enjoy living here. I know my mother would be so lonely living alone, and go crazy taking care of my grandma. It's a challenge sometimes, having a 4-generation home, but worth it, in this case. If my dad was still alive, I'd still be dreaming for the farmhouse though! )

And no, he hates the idea of a haircut. But by september, it's going to be pretty long. So if we're going to torture him with a trim, might as well do it at disney...

That's the best when babies will still nap in the sling! I wore Matthew at the airports to keep him nice and safe with me. He won't nap that way any longer though - I think he's just too big now to be comfortable.

Planning is half the fun! I'll admit, I got a bit obsessive about it though!

I hope you get your farmhouse someday!

And yes, I agree that if your DD has to have a haircut anyway it might as well be at Disney!

[cheryterese]

Originally Posted by reyasmommy

I'm loving your TR thus far. And your children are so adorable.

We're leaving on our vacation 2 weeks from today and your TR is helping me get in the mood. We just found out yesterday that my husband is taking a huge paycut and it's making it difficult to get excited because we need to be frugal. I'm SOOO ready for the Disney Magic because it's been a difficult year, and I know no matter what I can leave all my troubles behind once I walk through those gates.

We're going to get my DD's 1st haircut while we're there as well. She was bald up until she was 2 1/2. She turns 4 on March 25th. I've been waiting for a long, long time to fill out the "first haircut" page in her baby book. Thanks for sharing your experience and photos.

My DS just turned 2 months old on Monday and I'm thinking it's going to be a LONG time until he gets his first haircut too. For some reason I make some pretty bald babies.



I'm looking forward to reading and seeing more.

Your DS is sooooooooooooooo cute! And your trip is so close!! I hope you can relax in spite of the recent financial issues and have a great time!

I'll try to write another update soon, everyone, but all of the kids have been really sick and it's been taking all of my time. Hope to have time to write more soon!

[lexmas]

Hope your kids feel better soon!

[Charlefours]

Originally Posted by cheryterese

How old is your daughter?

She will be turning 4 on our trip!

Your rental house looks really nice--did you get a great deal? Did you have any problems with bringing your lunch into the parks? Not sure if you did this everyday?

MK day: love how magical your kid's reaction to the opening show--I bet it was priceless! Gotta also love all the Disney magic this first day!

cute haircut pictures and the ones of the pirate and pixie dust. Did they spray hairspray first to make it stick?

[mothermouse]

Hello, I can't wait to read your TR. I have a DD2 she will be 3 in March and My DH and me, DM are thinking about when is a good time to go on a family trip to disney (we are prob.going to take her when she is 4 or 5) Like you said, I can get some tips from your TR, so this should be a fun read

[mothermouse]

What is ridemax never heard of it before